Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-12-20
West Virginia Senator.

The Senate cOtnfnlLCee On Pilfi
leges and elections, last Tuesday, de-
cided unanimously to seat Senator
Faulkner, of this State. MIR. Lucas
and Mr.. Faulkner both addressed
the committee. Mr.. Lucas claimed
that Mr.. Faulkner was elected at a
special session of the Legislature
called for a special purpose, and that
the business of that session was re-
stricted to that for which the Legisla-
ture was called together. He
claimed that the Legislature at its
special session had no power to elect
a Senator, and that he (Mr. Lucas,)
as the Governors appointee, was en-
titled to the seat. Mr.. Faulkner
claimed that the power to elect Sena-
tors was conferred by the federal and
not the State constitution, and that
his election was therefore not irregu-
lar. The committee debated an hour
and awarded Mr.. Faulkner the seat.
On Wednesday, in the Senate,
Mr.. Hoar, presented the report of
The Committee. He said that the re-
port was unanimous. The questions
raised were very simple ones and cas-
ily comprehended. One of them had
been long ago determined by the
Senate, and he supposed that all
Senators had had occasion to reflect
on the other. In order that the SEN
ator entitled to the seat might enter
at once upon his duties, he hoped
there would be no objection to hav-
ing the report disposed of at pres
ent. The report was read at length.
1t concludes with two resolutions
the n declaring that Daniel B. LII
cas- is not entitled to the seat; and
the other declaring that Charles j.
Faulkner has been duly elected Sen
ator from the State of West Virginia
for the term of six years, commencing
the 18th of March, 1887, and is entitled
to a seat in the Senate as such Senator.
The resolutions were agreed to, viva
voce, and the oath of office was
thercupon administered to Mr.. Faulk-
ner. Mr.. Hoar then moved that Mr..
Faulkner be assigned to the Commit
tee on Claims, of the District of Co.
lumbia, Mines and Mining, and Pen
sions, which was also agreed to.
Mr.. Faulkner is therefore 10Y a
full-fedged Senator and will repre-
sent the people of this State in that
capacity. That he will be m able
aud creditable one, those who know
him best have the least cause to
doubt. He made a good record rs
Judge of this judicial circuit, and
the same untiring industry that char
acterized his service in that impor-
tant position will doubtless mark his
career in the higher branch of our
national Legislature.
Senator F%aulkner's autobiography,
as it appears in the Congressional Di-
rectory, is as follows:
Charles James Faulkner, of Mar
tinsburgh, was born in Martinsburgh,
Berkeley county, W. Va, Sept. 81,
1S47; accompanied his father, who
u,o ,ojo;e+nr 70 Eropoo in 1890. of
tended noted schools in Paris and
Switzerland returned to the United
States in August, 1861, and after the
arrest of his father lie Immediately
went south; in 1862, at the age of
fifteen, he entered the Virginia Mill
tary Institute at Lexington served
with the cadets in the battle of New
Market; served as Aid to General J.
c. Breckenridge, and afterward to
General Henry A. Wise, surrender
ing with him at Apppomattox; or his
to Boydville, his home in Mar
tinsburg, he studied under the d;rec-
ton of his father until October, 1866,
when he entered the University of
Virginia, graduating in June, 1868;
was admitted to the bar in Septem-
Der, 1868; was made Grand Master
of the Masonic Grand Lodge in 1879;
in October, 1880, was elected Judge
of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
Court, composed of the counties of
jefferson, Morgan, and Berkeley;
was elected to the United States Sem
ate as a Democrat, to succeed John
T1- 81 &~N1r IL ~@4t
March d. 1887. His term of service
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